Dear Recently-Released Prisoner,

From the moment you are released from prison the world will seek to impress upon you the idea that, somehow, you’re behind, that you need to “catch up.” It’s not true. Whodo you need to catch up to? They’ll tell you that “you need to hit the ground running.” But the truth is, you need to hit the ground praying.

Your story is not their story. Your name was written in the book of life by The Author of All Things. Don’t allow people any space to even THINK they can control the narrative of your life.

Don’t try to conform to the ways of the world. The world will try to convince you to focus on everything except God. Society will try to make you feel like an outcast if you don’t buy into their system. You’re going to feel pressured to accept all kinds of ideas that aren’t in line with the teachings of Christ. You’re going to feel like a foreigner, and it’s because you are. Your citizenship is in heaven.

Keep in mind that your arrest, conviction, and subsequent imprisonment says nothing negative about you. Actually, it says the exact opposite. Christians have always been persecuted. Your imprisonment has only fulfilled scripture. Jesus too was arrested and convicted, but He was sentenced to death. Again, it was to fulfill scripture, that you and I might live.